MARTA, FTC Fight Telemarketing Fraud in Atlanta

For Your Information

February 3, 1997

The Federal Trade Commission and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) have entered into a partnership to stamp out telemarketing fraud in the Atlanta area. To help consumers avoid telemarketing scams, MARTA will carry public service messages on the back of 100 city buses, inside its "riders digest" brochures in 785 municipal buses and in 200,000 copies of MARTA magazine distributed at 36 rail stations in the region.

"MARTA is making a wonderful contribution to Atlanta’s citizens," said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Telemarketing fraud costs American consumers, including Atlantans, as much as $40 billion a year. It injures both victims and legitimate telemarketing companies. Giving consumers the information they need to avoid telemarketing fraud is a real service," she said.

MARTA’s public service announcements will direct Atlanta consumers to the FTC’s World Wide Web site at http://www.ftc.gov(no period). That site provides information to help consumers spot telemarketing scams, and provides material for educators, companies, community organizations and others to use to spread the word about telemarketing fraud.

Copies of the telemarketing material, as well as news releases and other consumer education materialare available on the Internet at the FTC’s World Wide Web site at:http://www.ftc.gov(no period). Copies also are available from the FTC’s Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.